XI.

[hellshaped]

[Hellboy is currently in the lobby, smoking. He's headed outside for a walk, as he is wont to do, but he decides to open his journal first. Maybe preemptively sidestep some awkward language stuff before it happens.

Dictated in English!]So, how long do these things usually last, anyway? This isn't like the time we were all stuck in the ocean, so I

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[jamesholmes]

[Have some gentle correction of your Latin Hellboy, he's thrilled someone else speaks it but it could do with a little work. Then in English he continues.]

That is an impressive collection of languages, especially in it's depth. [He is impressed though, it's in his voice.]

[hellshaped]

Oh. Gratias tibi. [It's been a long time since he's studied Latin, and most of it is just reading, so -- forming sentences is a little harder!

Anyway, he will continue in English as well.]

I travel a lot, so it comes in pretty handy. Never quite got the hang of Russian, though.

[jamesholmes]

Vos es exspectata. [Not a problem, he uses Latin a lot, and he likes helping those that know it. Keeps it in use and all.]

It does come in handy when you travel a lot, I know the feeling. And Russian is one I'm not terribly good at either unfortunately, but my dealings in Russia are very seldom.

[hellshaped]

Oh, I go to Russia pretty often. But a lot of people speak German or English over there, so it's pretty okay.

I don't know what the Baba Yaga speaks, but we understand each other okay.

[jamesholmes]

Unfortunately my travel time was cut short in my later years, so I really never got there all that often, physical limitations. Though German I can do as well, had to learn that back, before World War Two, though my accent is not exactly terribly good.

The Baba Yaga? Who, or what is that? If you don't mind my asking.

[hellshaped]

Oh. I'm sorry to hear that. [-- uh. World War 2. Well, Hellboy's older, too -- not quite that old, you know, but still, old enough where he doesn't want to pry. He is curious, though. Is this guy really old, or is he from the past? Well, the past relative to Hellboy's own time, that is.

Time is confusing.]

Err -- the Baba Yaga. She's kind of a Russian witch. Sort of. We have a little bit of a history.

[jamesholmes]

It's what happens when your gift isn't that of longevity. [He can pry, James is rather open about it, considering he doesn't ya know look over a hundred odd years old and all. He's not from Hellboy's relative past, more then likely right around his time actually.

But yes time is confusing, even James will agree to that.]

Ahh, I can see where knowing Russian then would come in handy then. And sort of a witch but not. I take it she's not all that cut and dry in terms of her abilities then?

[hellshaped]

I guess not everybody's that lucky. So you're -- er, human?

[Every other person he's met here so far seems to be a vampire or a dragon or something, so it's ... a question he doesn't feel quite that weird about asking.]

She's kind of a mythological figure. They tend to do whatever they want.

[jamesholmes]

Unfortunately not. And you could say that, physically I am at least.

[Oh the fun of explaining what he is to someone, but he's used to it, and it's not too far fetched a question, considering what all lives at the castle.]

Ahhh, yes, I can see where they would, tend to. Are they, common in your world? [Oh great for you Hellboy you've got his curiosity now.]

[hellshaped]

Physically human. Alright.

[Not gonna pry not gonna pry not gonna pry --]

More or less. I'm not on very great terms with Hecate, either.

[jamesholmes]

Yes physically human.

[He's dropping hints, go ahead, he doesn't bite...]

Hecate as well hmm? I think the only god we have in my world is Kali, who I unfortunately never met. You are lucky.

[hellshaped]

I don't know about lucky. She's kind of a pain.

[But it would be rude, so rude! He is trying really hard not to pry, but -- well. It probably would be proactive to make sure, wouldn't it?]

Anyway. You're physically human. So would make you ...?

[jamesholmes]

For some reason, that is hardly a surprise, the goddess of magic and such being a pain.

[It's not rude honest! He's not terribly tight lipped about it with someone who speaks Latin. Besides he's polite, he may be surprised.]

An abnormal, physically I'm human mentally, let us just say I could, rival many minds even in fiction with my talents.

[He's...not very humble do excuse him Hellboy.]

[hellshaped]

[Oh gee, one of those.]

So you're a psychic?

[jamesholmes]

[A snort.]

My skills may lead you to think I'm a psychic but I'm not.

Nor am I a brain invading bug, or omnipotent god like figure.

[hellshaped]

[Long ... pause ...]

Wait, are you just saying you're really smart?